Authors:
A tufted to clump-forming species to 15cm tall in bloom. Leaves grassy, 2-5mm wide by 30cm in length. Flowers scented, about 4cm in diameter, the standards and style arms blue-lavender to violet and the falls white, having lavender-blue to violet veining and margins, early to mid summer. Eastern Europe, central Asia to China, on dryish hills, grassy plains and edges of pine and birch forests up to 3200m. A rather variable species, especially as to leaf length and width, and flower height. Dwarf plants are known (var. nana).
